effect
noun OPAL WOPAL S
/ɪˈfekt/
/ɪˈfekt/
Idioms - [countable, uncountable] a change that somebody/something causes in somebody/something else; a result
- the beneficial effects of exercise
- What are the long-term effects of this treatment?
- The results show a statistically significant effect.
- effect on somebody/something Her tears had no effect on him.
- the effect of heat on metal
- Modern farming methods can have an adverse effect on the environment.
- Farms can have both positive and negative effects on the community.
- Despite her ordeal, she seems to have suffered no ill effects.
- effect upon somebody/something The study examines architecture and its effect upon people's lives.
- to examine/study/investigate the effect of something
- to evaluate/assess the effect of something
- to cause harmful health effects
- I can certainly feel the effects of too many late nights.
- effect of doing something Her criticisms had the effect of discouraging him completely.
- to learn to distinguish between cause and effect
- I tried to persuade him, but with little or no effect.
- ‘I'm feeling really depressed.’ ‘The winter here has that effect sometimes.’
Language Bank consequentlyconsequentlyDescribing the effect of something- One consequence of changes in diet over recent years has been a dramatic increase in cases of childhood obesity.
- Many parents today do not have time to cook healthy meals for their children. Consequently/As a consequence, many children grow up eating too much junk food.
- Many children spend their free time online instead of playing outside. As a result, more and more of them are becoming overweight.
- Last year junk food was banned in schools. The effect of this has been to create a black market in the playground, with pupils bringing sweets from home to sell to other pupils.
Which Word? affect / effectaffect / effectsee also after-effect, butterfly effect, domino effect, Doppler effect, greenhouse effect, knock-on, network effect, ripple effect, side effect- affect verb = ‘to have an influence on somebody/something’:
- Does television affect children’s behaviour?
- effect noun = ‘result, influence’:
- Does television have an effect on children’s behaviour?
- effect verb is quite rare and formal and means ‘to achieve or produce’:
- They hope to effect a reconciliation.
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effecta2- The drug had no effect in curing the illness.
- Any delay in delivery of materials will have a knock-on effect throughout the production process.
- Giving up smoking had a magical effect on his stamina.
- Heavy taxation has a disincentive effect.
- It's a policy that will have a chilling effect on free speech.
- The drug exerts a powerful effect on the brain.
- We had problems with mosquitoes, but this spray had the desired effect.
- The plague struck London again with devastating effect.
- The project has already had a direct effect on the lives of one million people.
- the crippling effect of sanctions on the economy
- The full effects of the new tax have not yet been felt.
- His comment was intended to calm the situation but it had the opposite effect.
- The deterrent effect of the death penalty has long been questioned.
- How soon will the effects of the drug wear off?
- I am interested in documenting the effects of international events on ordinary people.
- There was no discernible effect on cell growth.
- a face cream designed to combat the effects of age
- drugs which mimic the effects of hormones
- Women feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than men.
- the serious health effects which result from obesity
- to minimize the effects of economic change
- I took the medicine with dramatic effect.
- The effect lasted only a short time.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- decisive
- dramatic
- far-reaching
- …
- bring about
- exert
- have
- …
- exist
- occur
- spread
- …
- in effect
- to this effect
- to that effect
- …
- cause and effect
- to little effect
- to no effect
- …
- [countable, uncountable] a particular look, sound or impression that somebody, such as an artist or a writer, wants to create
- The overall effect of the painting is overwhelming.
- The stage lighting gives the effect of a moonlit scene.
- She uses glass to achieve a variety of visual effects.
- to produce/create an effect
- for an effect Add a scarf for a casual effect.
- for effect He only behaves like that for effect (= in order to impress people).
Extra Examples- I found that by adding white I could achieve the desired effect.
- The yellow pigment produced the opposite effect to that desired.
- That is precisely the effect I was aiming at.
- The dramatic effect was heightened by her black dress and dead white face.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- special
- cinematic
- audio
- …
- effects[plural] lights, sounds, special scenery, computer images, etc. used in a play or film, especially in order to show things that do not normally exist or happen
- The production relied too much on spectacular effects.
- effects[plural] (formal) your personal possessions synonym belongings
- The insurance policy covers all baggage and personal effects.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin effectus, from efficere ‘accomplish’, from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ + facere ‘do, make’. Sense (3), ‘personal belongings’, arose from the obsolete sense ‘something acquired on completion of an action’.
Idioms
bring/put something into effect
- to cause something to come into use
- The recommendations will soon be put into effect.
come into effect
- to come into use; to begin to apply
- New controls come into effect next month.
in effect
- used when you are stating what the facts of a situation are
- In effect, the two systems are identical.
- His wife had, in effect, run the government for the past six months.
- By asking for these particular qualifications, you are, in effect, excluding most women from applying.
- The border closure meant, in effect, that no trade took place between the countries.
- (of a law or rule) in use
- These laws are in effect in twenty states.
- Some laws from the 18th century are still in effect.
take effect
- to start to produce the results that are intended
- The aspirins soon take effect.
- The medicine started to take effect after a few minutes.
- to come into use; to begin to apply
- The new law takes effect from tomorrow.
to the effect that… | to this/that effect
- used to show that you are giving the general meaning of what somebody has said or written rather than the exact words
- He left a note to the effect that he would not be coming back.
- She told me to get out—or words to that effect.
to good, great, dramatic, etc. effect
- producing a good, successful, dramatic, etc. result or impression
- The air conditioning came on, to little effect.
- She uses animal sounds to startling effect in her music.
to no effect
- not producing the result you intend or hope for
- We warned them, but to no effect.
with effect from…
- (formal) starting from…
- The government has cut interest rates with effect from the beginning of next month.
with immediate effect
- (formal) starting now
- She has resigned with immediate effect.